Doug2507
Headphoneus Supremus
Don't rule it out Leto, apparently very low hrs on this unit and been advised it really needs 250-300+. Getting to keep a hold of it over the weekend so it's away to run 24/7 for a few days. I'll report back.
THE WATERCOOLER HEADPHONE EDITION – Headphones, Amps, DACs, and desktop/home audio related – a freewheeling discussion of gear, impressions, music, and musings.
- Thread starter goldwerger
- Start date
Yeah, keep the feedback coming, but likely I am set with MMT for years to come at this point.
ThanatosVI
Headphoneus Supremus
Just wait till the Ultra 8 releases and tell me wether it's worth it
Death_Block
Headphoneus Supremus
Can you ask it to roast the Corda soul?
Can you ask it to roast the Corda soul?
Corda Soul: The DAC That Tries Too Hard and Fails Spectacularly
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Design & Build: Did You Order This From a Soviet Surplus Store?The Corda Soul looks like it escaped from a Cold War communications bunker. It’s a boxy, retro-styled unit that screams “I’m an engineer, not a designer.” Buttons, knobs, switches—oh my! If you wanted your DAC to double as an avionics panel from a retired MiG fighter, congrats, you nailed it. Just don’t expect your guests to know whether it’s an audio device or a defibrillator for robots.
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Sound Quality: Analytic to the Point of AutismThis thing is so clinically sterile, it should come with latex gloves. Yes, the dual WM8741 chips are technically impressive, but the end result is about as emotionally engaging as a spreadsheet. You’re not listening to music—you’re performing forensic analysis on sound waves. It’s like asking HAL 9000 to sing you a lullaby.
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DSP Features: The Swiss Army Knife That Stabs You in the BackCrossfeed! Notch filters! Tone control! It’s all here… because Jan Meier clearly couldn’t resist stuffing every DSP trick into this Frankenstein’s monster. Too bad it only works on digital inputs, so all that fanciness becomes utterly useless if you dare to use analog. Want to use crossfeed with your vinyl setup? Hilarious. You must be new here.And let’s talk about usability: the interface is so dense and menu-driven, you’ll need a PhD and three hours to figure out how to disable the damn bass boost that makes your tracks sound like you’re clubbing in a submarine.
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No DSD Support: What Year Is It Again?This DAC can’t handle DSD or anything above 192kHz. That’s right, it’s a top-tier DAC that chokes on formats supported by $200 Chi-Fi dongles. Imagine paying over a grand for a “flagship” and then watching it get obliterated in functionality by a Topping E70. Meier’s response? “But our filters are so good you won’t need DSD.” Oh, I see. So it’s your fault for wanting things it doesn’t support. Nice.
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Digital Gain Control: A Masterclass in Bad DecisionsNo analog gain. Nope. Instead, you get a digital gain setup that can—and will—clip your signal if you dare to push it too hard. So basically, you paid premium to get distortion when the DSP decides it’s had enough of your high-gain headphones. Genius. It’s like buying a Ferrari that screams if you go over 70 mph.
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I/O Limitation: Welcome to Minimalist HellNo unbalanced inputs or outputs. Just balanced or digital. Apparently, you’re supposed to throw away your entire existing gear chain and rebuild it around this diva of a DAC. Plug in a 3.5mm? How barbaric. Meier doesn’t do peasant-level I/O.
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Value: For When You Want to Spend Big and Feel SmallYou could get a Benchmark DAC3, an RME ADI-2, or several nights with a therapist to talk about your spending habits. Instead, you bought the Corda Soul—the DAC equivalent of a German sports car with a 1980s interior, a cassette player, and no air conditioning, but hey, it’s “engineered.”
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Final Verdict: The Corda Soul is the answer to a question nobody asked: What if we made a DAC that’s ultra-precise, confusing as hell, allergic to modern formats, and designed like a nuclear launch panel? It’s a device for the kind of audiophile who says things like “I don’t want musicality, I want truth,” while listening to Steely Dan at 83 dB and pretending they’re enlightened.You didn’t buy the Soul for sound—you bought it to cosplay as a sound engineer who hasn’t felt joy since 2006.
For those who don’t usually listen to jazz but are curious to explore, this YouTube video offers some nice introductory recommendations for light listening.
Btw, a great channel with lots of cool recommendations. I like this guy..
Btw, a great channel with lots of cool recommendations. I like this guy..
Doug2507
Headphoneus Supremus
That's great, I personally don't "hate" jazz, just feel totally lost not knowing what "type" of jazz I like. The crazy off the cuff full on improv type stuff isn't my thing, but I don't mind some chilled out easy going stuff. I'll watch this at the weekend, along with some country recs a friend made. In for a penny....
Death_Block
Headphoneus Supremus
Oof lmao.
Couple of things are incorrect though.
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That is not a bad list for people who think they don't like jazz! It could easily be ten completely different tracks, but I like his picks. Will check out his other videos. Thanks!
normie610
Headphoneus Supremus
Agree. These DACs tend to have a long period of “settling in”. Looking at the aspects that you love from M21, perhaps it’s worth a shot to demo an APL DAC, either a WR or MR.
As much as I love jazz, the full on improv isn’t really my thing either, there may be a couple of exceptions though.
jsabini1
500+ Head-Fier
That thing makes me laugh every time I see it! When I first saw it on Apos I thought it was an April Fool's joke.Who here has a cute little robot that likes to pose for photos and sings to you when you connect it to headphones?
Its called the xDuoo DM-01 and it sounds incredible, and its only $279.
https://apos.audio/products/xduoo-dm-01-desktop-dac-amp
I'd love to hear further impressions on it.
Receiving Headonia next week then I will post impressions, paring with a Rossini Apex PlayerHi Friends,
So first a piece of good news!
This is my first post on this thread (sorry, @goldwerger, took some time)!
Some of you may or may not know that I started off as primarily a reviewer of high-end headphones but gradually transitioned to IEMs as I began to struggle with neck and back muscle spasms.
However, as I am recovering, I have taken baby steps back into headphones. I have reviewed a few recently as well.
Which brings me to a question I have for you guys. Has anyone compared the following amplifiers or tried them with the Utopia or the Caldera?
1. The limited edition Feliks Envy
2. Auris Headonia
3. Primavera Trafomatic
4. AIC Riviera 10
Thanks in advance!
Canjam photo for attention.
On the topic of Auris, I received my Nirvana 6 amp a week ago, still burning in the tubes but initial thoughts are very very positive. Build quality is "like a tank", and this color touch looks way better in person than on pictures. From what I know it is successor to the previous Nirvanas with new tubes and metal build.
I call it headphone beautifier
so musical, making my he1000se sound smoother open and easy to listen but still not missing on the details. I demoed the Immanis with it in Auris headquarters and left with unique soundstage impression which is probably characteristic of immanis and didn't feel something was lacking. But didn't have a chance to try Headonia though...Miki the founder calls it like a Maybach of his amps so that speaks a lot 
TheMiddleSky
Headphoneus Supremus
On the topic of Auris, I received my Nirvana 6 amp a week ago, still burning in the tubes but initial thoughts are very very positive. Build quality is "like a tank", and this color touch looks way better in person than on pictures. From what I know it is successor to the previous Nirvanas with new tubes and metal build.
I call it headphone beautifier
I remember the "problem" with headonia 300B was the gain too high, so I could barely moved the potentiometer. What's your usual volume with HE1000SE?
Agree, new generation of Auris truly built like a tank.
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